Magnetic action for pipe organs



Jan. 6, 1931.

H. Il'. WATERS ET Al.

MAGNETIC ACTION FOR lPIPE ORGANS Filed Oct. 17, 1928 Patented Jan. le, 1931 {,UNITED STA'FES`` PATENT OFFICE 1 HARRY F. WATERS, oF sT.KI.oUIs,' AND vERNIE RoY BROWN, .on UNIVERSITY CITY, i

MISSOURI, AssIGNoRs To MAGNETIC oRGAN ACTION COMPANY, F UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION `0F MISSOURI MAGNETIC ACTIN FORPIP ORGANSV Application. mea october 17, 192s.; seriai Np. 512,987.

This invention relates generally to improvements in magnetic Adevices for impart'- ying movement to movable parts of pipe organs, and particnlarlyto devices of this type which are provided with stationary elements in the nature of cores with which movable, magnetically influenced, elementsare arranged to move in, telescoping relation on energization of said devices. t

Much experimentationhasbeen carried on recently in elforts to produce magnetic acf tions which will function efficiently in actuating movable parts of pipe organs and because such a device must necessarily produce movement of substantial ,extent while consuming the minimum amount of electrical energy the solutionof the problemhas not been at' all simple. We have discovered however, that an'electro-magnetor a solenoid which will 2 function with a very high degree of efficiency for this purpose may be yproduced when the movable, `magnetically infiuenced, element of the device is arranged for telescoping movement with respect to the fixed magnetized element by which said movable elementis influenced. By this arrangement theair gap ordinarily present in devices of this type between the movable, magnetically influenced,

o element and the fixed element by which said 3 duced in extent whereby current cons'uinption of the device is maintained at the minimum and at the Sametime the telescoping arrangement ofthe elements referred to proand movable elements ofthe solenoids referred to comprised a conical portion on one formed in the otherofsaid elements'into which said conical portionmoved, and 'it has been found in the `use of a solenoid vso conystructed because of the'shape ofthe telescop`v ing portion and `recess that the airfseal betweenthe fixed core andthe movable-elev to break theair seal. c

In Aaccordancewith the arrangement dismovable element 'is influenced is greatly revidesfor al stroke of theV movable elementk influenced,element moved in telescoping rela- Y tion. The telescoping portions ofthe fixed4 .of said elements and a conical shaped 'rece-iss.v

ment is broken vwith dificulty. This difficulty lresults from the fact that the magnetism'by which the movable element is attracted, is distributed along the ,entire'conical face of the fixed core and therefore there is a no con*- centration of magnetism at a particular point which would cause the ymaximum attraction to be exerted against the movable element closed in the present application, the telescoping portion and recess of the fixed and movable elements are so. shaped thatth'ere is ,l

a. concentrationof magnetism at a certain point whereby the maximum power is exerted j* at the very beginning of the stroke of the movable element yso that the air seal between said elements is effectively broken. i

Fig. 1 illustratesa magnetic organ action constructed in accordancewith lour invention.

Fig. 2 jinustmtes `aerial form of'. the. in-

'infnigi oftheodrawiaglwhiehiiiuaates one embodiment ofthe invention, A designates the wind-cliestof a pipe organand B designates the top wall of said windchest which is provided with an opening C. Ddesfv ignates a seat foranr organ pipe E, which seat preferably includes a tubular portion which extendsslightly below the lower `face ofthe top `wall of the windV-.chestto provide a valve seat F. The toeportion of the organ i pipe E isprovided with an orificeGr arranged vin registration with the passageway through the tubular. portion of the seat-l), .whereby air may passV into. the pipefrom the windchest to cause the pipe to speak.

1 desi nates asingle pole `el'ectro-magnet ywhich is provided with a stationary coreg2 formed of "suitableA magnetic `material'and vhaving an opening formed longitudinally therethrough. The j upper portion of thev fcoreQl is extended above the-top face of the magnet and Said upper .portion ofsaid core is tapered to a smaller diameter at the upper edge of the core as indicated at the point designated by the reference character 3.

4 designates a support for the electromagnet 1, said support comprisingva strip of magnetic material having a portion 5 at its lower end extended at an approximate right angle to the main or vertical portion of the support. The-electro-magnet 1 is secured to the portion 5 of the support 4 in any suitable manner, the lower endportion of the core 2 preferably being extended through an aperture formed through said portion 5 of said support. The core and the portion 5 of the support are intimately connected together so that magnetism will pass from one to the other of said elements. At the upper end of the support 4 the strip 0f material comprising same is provided with a portion 6 which is arranged Vat van approximate right angle to the main or vertical portion of said support and said portion 6 preferably extends in the opposite direction to that in which the portion 5 extends. The support 4 is secured to the top wall of the wind-chest by fastening devices which pass through apertures formed in the portion 6 thereof.

Arranged immediately above'the upper end of the core 2 of the electro-magnet is the armature 7 of the improved action. The particular armature illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided with a recess 8 which corresponds approximately in shape with the shape of the tapered upper portion'of the core 2. Also the armature 7 is provided with an outwardly extended, annular flange 9 which is located at the upper face of said armature. 10 designates a rod, formedl of brass, or other non-magnetic material, which is secured to the armature 7 by having its upper end driven into an opening formed in the armature. The lower end portion of the rod 10 is extended into the longitudinal opening formed through the core 2 to aid in guiding the armature 7 during movement thereof. Extended upwardly from the armature 7 is a second rod 11 which is rigidly fixed to said armature by having its lower end driven into an opening formed in the armature. As shown in Fig. 1, the rods 10 and 11 are alined with each other, and the ends thereof which are located within the openings formed in the armatureV abut against each other. Y

Mounted on the. rod 11 at the upper end thereof is an air valve H, said air valve being adapted to be seated againstJ the valve seat F to control the passage of air'from the air chest A into the pipe E. The air valve H may be of the usual construction common to air valves of pipe organs.

Extended outwardly from the support 4, is an arm 12, said arm being formed of suitable magnetic material and being rigidly fixed in any suitable manner to the vertical portion of said support. The connection between the arm 12 and the support 4 is such that magnetism will pass from one of said elements to the other thereof when the electro-magnet 1 is energized. The arm 12 is provided adjacent to its outer end with an opening 13 through which the armature 7 extends, said opening kbeing of such diameter that the armature may move longitudinally of its major axis through said opening when the electro-magnet is energized or cle-energized. When the electro-magnet 1 is in a cle-energized condition, the annular flange 9 on the armature is alined vertically with the outer portion of the arm 12v and said flange is spaced apart in an upward direction from said outer portion of said arm. 14 designates a washer of felt or other suitable soft material, which acts as a buffer or silencer, said washer being arranged in contact with the arm 12 in such position that same will be struck by the flange 9 of the armature 7 when said armature is drawn downwardly by the electro-magnet 1, whereby noise which which would otherwise result from Contact of the flange 9 with the arm 12 is eliminated. 15 designates a guide arm which is preferably fixed to the arm 1.2,V said guide arm being provided with an opening formed therethrough at a point adjacent to its outer end through which the rod 11 extends. The guide arm 15 aids in guiding the vertical movement of the armature and the associated elements which move therewith. 16 designates a coil spring which surrounds the rod 11 and is interposed between the arm 15 and the air valve H, said coil spring tending to force said air valve upwardly into close contact with the valve seat F.

1n the operation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, energization of the electro-magnet 1 caused by depression of the associated organ key, or otherwise, and the consequent completion of the4 electrical circuit leading to the electron'iagnet will result in the armature 6 liieing drawn downwardly into the position in which said armature is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movement of the armature will draw the air valve H away from the valve seat F thus permitting air to pass from the wind-chest A into the pipe E whereby said pipe will be caused to speak. i As already stated, solenoids have been pro duced heretofore having xed cores and movable elements arranged to be attracted l' j: said fired cores, which fixed cores and movable elci. were arranged for telescoping movet with respect to` each other. The telescoping portion of the fixed cores and movable elements of the solenoids referred to comprised conical portions and conical recesses and it has been found in the operation of such devices that the magnetism isso vdistributed along the'entire conical faces of the telen scoping portions and' Walls of the co-opeie ating recesses that concentration of the mag netism is prevented, hence difficulty is en countered in breakingk the air seal between* the fixed cores and the movable elements. 'In connection with the present invention, however, the telescoping portions of the iixed core and the movable element are so shaped that concentration of magnetism occurs at the point indicated by the reference character X in Figs, 1 and 4 and because this concen-` tra-tion of magnetism taires place immediately upon energization of the electro-magnet the air seal between the fixed `core and the movable element of the` device is quickly broken and the movable element draivndovvnwardly;

It Will be noted that at the point X referred to, the iixed core 2 and the. movable element 7 are relatively close together' hence move nient- Will be imparted to the movable element with the minimum consumption of electrical energy.

In the form oi the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the core Qa, instead of being provided with a tapered portion asin Fig. l, is provided ivith a recess 8a having a tapered side Wall. Likewise in this form of the inveiition, the armature 7a is not provided with a recess as in Fig. 2 but is provided at its lower end with a tapered portion 3a shaped to move downwardly into the recess 8e when the armatiire 7 a is attracted by the magnetized core 2a.. Aside from the changes indicated above, the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is con- Vstructed inst as is the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. Also the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, operates the same as the form of the invention shown iii Fig. 1, magnetism being concentrated at the point desig nated by the reference character Xa in' Fig. 2` to effectively and quickly break theair seal between the fixed core Qa and the armature 7a.

In Fig. 3 nre-illustrate our invention einbodied in a solenoid comprisinga coil la having a fixed core 2?). '77) designates a movable element which is movable Within the tubular member 7c, said member in the `embodiment of the invention shown being connected toV a pivoted arm-2O Which arm in turn has an airvalve H?) connected to its outer end. The Vfixed lcore 2b is provided 'f with a tapered recessSb into which a tapered portion 3b on the Ymovable' elementyb-is adapted to move'.` The operation ofthe form Y of the invention shown in Fig. Bis the samev as the operation of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2, magnetismbeing conducted at. the point designated bythe reference character vXZ) on energiaation of the solenoid to quickly and eifectively breakA the air seal between the fixed core andthe" movable element 7b.

While the telescop-ing portions' and recesses of tlie'fixed'core andthe movable element 'of our` improved'vdevicevare appr'oxiin'ately:V the f shape of a frustum, Wedo' not wish to 'be lim-` ited to thisprecise'shape, as `these parts may be a great variety of sha-pes other than that shown in the drawing. f Ve claim.; y f j j l.. A device for actuating movable parts of pipe organs comprising `an electro-magnetic element provided with a .fixed member Lextended outwardly beyond the electro-'magnetic element and adapted tol be magnetized on energization of the electro-magnetic element,

a movable member located Wholly outside of said electro-magnetic element and arranged to be attracted by said iixed inembervvhen same is 'magnetized, one of said members being provided with a recessinto which a por-r tion of the other member is extended when' said movableV member is actuated, the shape of the last mentioned portion being defined by lines, one of Which crosses the major'axis ofsaid portion;

vvlien said movable member is actuated, the f shape of the last mentioned portionbeing deined by lines, angular With respect'to each other and extending approximately longitudinally and transversely of said portion. y.

A device for actuating movable parts of pipe organs comprising' an electro-magnetic element providedwith a fixed member Y adapted to be magnetized on energization of the electro-magnetic element, a movable member located wholly outside of said electromagnetic element and arranged to `be attracted by saidiixed member When same is lmagnetized, one of said members being provided with a'recess into which afportion of the other member is extendedvvvhen said movable member is actuated, the last mentioned portion being of the approximateshape of a frustum and said recess having a shape which corresponds approximately therewith.

' 4.5 A device for actuating movable parts of pipe organs comprising an electro-magnetic element provided With a fixed member adapted to bemagnetized on energiz'ation of lthe electro-magneticelement, a v movable member' located Whollyoutside of said elec-r ii'o V tro-magnetic element Vand movable in a straight line and Varranged to be yattracted by said vfixed member when sameis magnet-` ized,rone of said members being Yprovided* with a recess into which a portion of the other member is extended, when said movable member is actuated, the last mentioned portion being of the approximate shape of a frustum and said recess having a shape which corresponds approximately therewith.

5. A device for actuating movable parts of pipe organs comprising an electro-magnetic Y element provided with a fixed member extended outwardly beyond the electro-mag netic element and adapted to be magnctized on energization of the electromagnetic element, a movable-member located wholly outside of said electro-magnetic element and movable in a straight line, and arranged to be attracted by said fixed member when saine is magnetized, one of said members being provided with a recess into which a portion of the Vother member is extended when said movable member is actuated, the shape of the last mentioned portion being defined by lines, one of which crosses the major axis of said portion.

' In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

HARRY F. VATERS. VERNIE ROY BROVN.

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